Tier Two Feature: Defining a Path
TSR Features | 4 Oct 2009You’re a fifteen year old hockey player, you have OHL scouts interested in you, your only goal is to play in the NHL, and life seems pretty easy at the moment, right? Wrong. Fifteen is a defining moment in a young hockey player’s life, do they choose to stay in Ontario and go for OHL stardom, or do they go south of the border and become a NCAA campus legend? This age is a defining moment in their hockey careers, making the wrong decision can ruin a hockey player’s dream of the NHL.
Wes O’Neil, a second overall draft pick to the Kingston Frontenac’s in the 2002 OHL Priority Selection, is an example of someone who damaged his hockey career by making the wrong decision. The former midget star decided against the OHL, and committed to Notre Dame. This proved costly as O’Neil’s stock continuously slipped until he was a fourth round selection to the New York Islanders in 2004. Since his graduation to professional hockey, O’Neil has played in three NHL games notching zero points, and 105 AHL games totaling twelve points in two campaigns. For a player who had so much potential, his career has been diminished to nothing more than a career AHL player.
On the other hand players can succeed through NCAA. Nick Petrecki, of Boston College, and Brendan Smith, of Wisconsin, were high selections in the OHL, but decided on the college route. Both players have had successful careers in college and have reaped the rewards of being first round selections in the NHL Drafts. Brendan Smith is a highly touted point man for Detroit, while Petrecki is a defenseman of the future in San Jose. With those examples in mind, we’ll take a look at three tier two players who all have important decisions to make in regards to which development path they will elect to pursue.
D – Luke Juha
5’10, 175lbs.
Mississauga, ON
Burlington Cougars (CCHL)
When Luke Juha was scouted for the Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection, the scouts said that he is a defenseman will tremendous offensive upside, will not over complicate the game and always makes the smart pass. Juha has been said to make passes that other players his age would not attempt, which supports the fact that the Mississauga native, has outstanding vision.
So far Juha’s play has done nothing but support that fact that this kid may be an offensive genius on the blue line. Playing in the Central Canadian Hockey League (CCHL) for the Burlington Cougars, Juha has already notched twelve points in only seven games this season, six of them coming on the power play. His vision on the ice is uncharacteristic for a player of his age, and means nothing but good things for the Toronto Marlboro graduate. Through these seven games, there have only been two where Juha has not registered a point, and had a tremendous six point game against the Dixie Beehives. The numbers that Juha has put up are outstanding, and not only for a defenseman, but for a 1993 defenseman.
A fifth round pick of the Ontario Hockey League’s Guelph Storm, Juha attended training camp, but left before his NCAA grace period was over. He is still contemplating playing NCAA hockey and it has always been his and his parents’ agreement that he would play a year of Teir II Jr. A hockey, then assess his options.
D – Dylan DeMelo
6’0, 187 lbs.
London, ON
Mississauga Chargers (OHJL)
Dylan DeMelo’s, of the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Mississauga Charges, play can be compared to that of Luke Juha. He is an offensive minded defenseman, who has great vision and rarely make’s poor decisions with the puck. Overall he is an offensive force for the Chargers. A 2nd round draft choice of the St. Michael’s Majors, was signed by Mississauga in the off-season. The London native was sent down to Mississauga to work on his overall game and adapt to playing with people who are older and stronger than him.
DeMelo never second guessed his decision to play in the OHL, and is adapting well in the OJHL. Currently he sits with two points in four games for the Chargers, and has missed six games with an undisclosed injury. It will be expected that Dylan DeMelo will suit up for the St. Micheal’s Majors next season, while the fans have every reason to get excited for the offensive blue liner.
LW – Lucas Lessio
6’0, 170 lbs.
Woodbridge, ON
St. Michael’s Buzzers
Lucas Lessio, a first round pick of the Niagara Ice Dogs, had a very unconventional start to his professional career. Due to his commitment with the Michigan Wolverines NCAA program, Lessio left Niagara’s training camp before his 48 hours was up. With concern of Lessio never playing in the OHL, the Niagara Ice Dogs dealt Lessio to the Oshawa Generals with conditional picks based on how long he plays in the OHL. This is but another situation where a player has a very tough decision to make.
The 6’0, 170 pound Lessio was the seventh overall pick in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection, and with good reasoning. Lessio is a power forward with a lot of offensive potential. He plays a very strong board game, while being able to make space in tight situations. Along with his finesse game, there is a gritty-side to him that makes him such an asset. Oshawa may have given up a lot of assets for Lessio if he decides to report in the 2010-11 season, but for a player of his stature the benefits should warrant the cost. Along with Boone Jenner, and Kevin Bailie the team could be poised for a run in a couple seasons.
As much attention as this topic deserves, and receives, it is a tough decision for a fifteen or sixteen year old to make. The decision of whether to receive an education or focus solely on your hockey career for four years is something parents and players spent hours upon hours discussing.
Of course the OHL wants to limit the amount of players that claim to be going NCAA just to play where they want to in the OHL, but it is a tough issue to crack down on. The league continues to make small rule changes to avoid players cheating the system, but it comes at a risk. The OHL could potentially lose a lot of talent if they made players play where they are drafted. Sam Gagner, Patrick Kane, Cam Fowler, Jeremy Morin, and John Moore are recent players that have tasted the United States hockey, but have opted to play in Ontario later in their careers. While both paths will continue to be a viable option, every year brings new life to this issue, and ponders the question in hindsight if the right decision was made.
For TSR, I’m Mike Kloepfer.
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Tags: Dylan DeMelo, Lucas Lessio, Luke Juha
My question to you: What makes you think Wes O’Neill would have been better served playing in the OHL instead of with the Irish? It’s one thing to say he was a disappointment, another altogether to insinuate he’s a bust BECAUSE he skipped out on the ‘O’ to play NCAA hockey. Is this really your point?
You make it sound like they give out guaranteed NHL contracts as soon as guys sign up to play in the OHL.
I get that you’re a CHL guy, and thus it irks you when talented Canadian players decide to play in the NCAA — the feeling is mutual among many NCAA puckheads on my side of the border, though I don’t consider myself among them. There are pros and cons to both paths, and I don’t begrudge any player their choice. There’s lots of good hockey players in North America to around, IMO. But your logic of saying O’Neill “hurt himself” by playing at Notre Dame is pretty ridiculous — especially when you immediately make a point of saying how well guys like Petrecki and Smith are playing in the NCAA, and how they are still big-time NHL prospects. Surely those two guys are still big-time prospects because they were good players to begin with, and not because their college colleges gave them better guidance than they would have gotten in the OHL?
First I would like to say thank you for your comment, comments are always appreciated.
Now I will attempt to answer your question. The way I was trying to direct my article was towards the tough decision ahead for these fifteen or sixteen year old men. Wes O’Neil was a player who was a highly touted OHL prospect, and faltered in the NCAA system. Obviously I cannot be sure whether or not he would have succeeded in the OHL, but nonetheless he is an example of someone faltering in the NCAA league. I also pointed out some players who were high end OHL picks, while choosing to go the NCAA route, and did quite well for themselves. I was not looking to bash the NCAA, nor was I trying to pump the OHL’s tires, it was simply a statement that deals are not always set up to bring US players to the OHL, and it is a tough decision for most.
I hope this helps, and thank you again for your comment.
An overlooked development factor is that kids have to play at least 2 years in Tier 2. There is gap in calibre between the OHL and the OPJAHL (or what the 2 post civil war leagues call themselves) large enough to park the new Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental.
In most cases the kids’ minor midget AAA league was a greater challenge and provided better coaching than what is available in T2. Bad habits such as poor puck control & movement, improper positioning without the puck, poor ice/play reading, not picking up your defensive assignments, etc. are invariably not corrected.
A good example of this is Brendan Smith. I’m certain this 2007 1st round draft isn’t too happy about a) not being signed this past year, b) not making the Canadian U-20 team, and c) not being named to this fall’s 1st or 2nd WCHA all-star teams. The system based approach of the OHL would have improved his decision making, particularly in high-risk/turnover situations.
A current example is highly touted Lucas Lessio, ironically playing for the same T2 team as Brendan Smith. However the current club’s roster and coaching is a pale shadow of the team Smith played for. While not exactly a JT, Spezza, or Crosby type phenom, at 16 he is tied for 10th place in the league’s scoring, and 1st on his team. There is no quesion that he’s a top talent, however his play tends to be 1 dimensional, ie. the offensive zone, and to be blunt, is not being properly developed. He needs better team mates, opposition and coaching in order to improve.
Another example is Riley Sheahan. In minor midget this kid was mentioned in the same breath as Taylor Hall and also envisioned as a top 10 NHL prospect. We’ll have to wait and see where CS places him, however suffice it to say that he’s not exactly a lock for the 1st round.
Yet another is Ethan Werek … his stock fell from top ten, to mid-1st, to end of 1st and finally was drafted in the middle of he 2nd. No doubt he would have benefitted from an extra year of major junior.
Another player to monitor is 2008 1st round Daultan Leveille …
Sean,
For the record I played college hockey and coached Division I. I have also scouted the OHL when I was unemployed and looking for a job. I think you are missing the bigger picture. Many OHL scouts are often volunteers and are trying to gain some experience in professional hockey. Most folks are just cutting their teeth in the industry. Their views and rankings are often skewed by their lack of experience. It is not their fault just a by product of the environment. Zero to little pay, long hours on the road, watching Tier II and Batamn hockey. That being said do you honestly think that anyone in the NHL or NCAA takes the OHL rankings seriously? So when Wes came into the USHL, played against better competition, his weaknesses were exposed. That is when his stock dropped. I think Notre Dame did Wes a service by honoring their scholarship offer because Wes was a bust in Green Bay even before getting to the Irish.
I think most OHL scouts mostly do it as a hobby because they have a passion for the game, but I definitely see what you’re saying. As for O’Neil, it’s really too bad how the whole situation worked out for him, but at least he does have a degree to fall back on now, which is obviously a good asset to have in your pocket.
I’ll tell you one thing when demelo played for the chargers he ripped it up. He controlled the play and racked up some serious numbers, he shoudn’t of even been there. Tier II isn’t the best I know that, but some of the players are damn good and could play in the o, however, they’re pursuing scholarships.
When demelo got called up he played with the majors he looked good, he made the transition very smooth, he was making plays 2,3 year guys dont make
Watch out for him and Percy on the back end next year for the majors
IF anyone saw Wes play junior B as a 14 yearold they would understand why the Ncaa route was wrong for him. He wasnt affraid to drop his gloves against 20 year olds. And in the O he would have had a chance to build upon a more pro oriented game, that suited his skill set. ALL the players that have doen well going the NCAA Route ( Brendan Smith) have more of an offensive upside than what Wes O’Neill had. Wes in the OHL would have been groomed int a shut down defensemen by playing for games against topflight competition.